The aura of the martial artist surged into the sky, stirring the crimson flames in the heavens, causing the heavy clouds above to be tainted with a red hue. Yue Qianfeng stood atop the mountain peak, yet he did not charge directly into Guan Yi City as the officials above the court had speculated.
With the strength of the number one warrior of the Southern Chen, if he were to crash into Guan Yi City.
In a fierce battle, few could stop him.
He could easily pierce into the depths of Chen Kingdom like a sharp spear, directly impacting Jiangzhou City, which was merely two hundred miles away. In that case, it would be like a fierce tiger entering the mortal realm, even the officials of the capital would tremble in fear.
However, he could not do that.
Yue Qianfeng held a wine jar, standing there watching the common folk in the city, their lives filled with smoke and fire. Yet upon hearing his roar, they became flustered. He withdrew his gaze, lifted his neck, and drank, savoring the cheap wine that cost a mere coin a cup, three cups for a jar.
These were his comrades, those he would protect with his life, even if it meant dying in battle.
How could he turn his weapons against them?
A martial artist of his caliber, even without divine weapons, could easily cause tens of thousands of casualties with a single outburst. Who would perish under his fist? Who were their fathers, their children, their daughters, their beloved ones?
He raised the wine jar, tilting his head back to drink, the strong liquor flowing down his throat.
The wanted criminals he had captured trembled in fear, ultimately rushing towards the three gates of the city, leaving only one gate. These wanted criminals possessed the qi of the Crimson Dragon; if they were to harm the common folk, they did not wish to experience the consequences.
Those unwilling to cooperate were dealt with by the burly man, each punch turning their heads into mush. As he killed these fugitives, Yue Qianfeng's eyes were cold with killing intent, as if looking at corpses, more terrifying than these vicious criminals.
As these wanted criminals rushed towards the three city gates, disrupting the view.
Master Zhu calmly entered among the last of the common folk.
The patriarch of the Mo family and the Simi of the Yin-Yang family awaited there.
And the key was not those wanted criminals, but Yue Qianfeng, the rebel capable of attracting the attention of all the strong and noble families in the city, allowing Master Zhu to enter safely and complete the final step of rescuing Marshal Yue. This was the strategy.
How could the renowned generals of the world be foolish enough not to understand strategy?
From the very beginning of his defection from the Yue family army, this was his purpose.
Even if the final outcome was his demise.
Yue Qianfeng grinned and softly said in his heart:
The Yue family army does not harm the common folk.
The border generals do not disturb the people.
They are your generals.
Upholding the final loyalty and righteousness.
If I, Old Yue, die here, I will bear the crime of being a rebel.
The comrades at the border will instead be safe.
Then he finished the wine, placing the Yue family army token beside the fine wine, softly saying, "Great Commander, please watch as I continue to charge into battle. You have brought me from a mere mountain bandit to the right path, gaining this great reputation. Today, I will return everything to you."
"This life, this martial valor, and this name."
Boom!!!!!!
He gripped two hand halberds and suddenly threw them, forcefully urging his battle power. The halberds spun in his hands, stirring his inner qi, tearing apart the essence into flames. At this moment, the Dharma form seemed to manifest through the flames, two fire dragons crossing a distance of ten miles.
Then they heavily smashed against the city gate.
The giant crossbows of the Mo family set up on the city were instantly shattered, the thick city gate, five inches thick, was crushed to powder in an instant, the massive copper gate nails melted as if burned by raging flames, the city gate could not be closed, and the burly man laughed loudly:
"Hahahahaha, Yue Qianfeng is here!"
"Who dares to fight me to the death!"
………………
The martial aura surged into the sky.
Li Guanyi let out a muffled grunt, feeling the impact of the aura like a clash of dragons and tigers. The tip of his brush pressed heavily onto the white paper, leaving a black ink dot, while the other scholars maintained their composure, the younger ones were in a panic.
This was a great change!
An old man in black armor, with a resolute brow, stood at the city gate, wielding a sword to sever the remaining aura, the blade resting against the ground, his first choice was to defend Guan Yi City.
This was the renowned general of Chen Kingdom, worried that Yue Qianfeng was trying to lure him away from the city.
He wielded his sword to kill the incoming wanted criminals, shouting, "Xue Daoyong!!!"
In the royal courtyard, an old man in a scholar's robe sighed. Xue Shuangtao was stunned, seeing her grandfather raise his hand to press against his robe, pulling it down to reveal armor beneath, and further inside, soft armor. The old man raised his hand to grasp a heavy bow, saying, "The player often finds it hard to leave the game."
"Guanyi, remember this."
"I will protect you all."
The Dharma form of the White Tiger roared, the old man strode out, the White Tiger riding the fierce wind, the old man holding the bow soared into the air, drawing the battle bow. The distance to the city gate was a full five miles, and to Yue Qianfeng was fifteen miles. An arrow released a golden gale, suddenly tearing through the clouds.
It spiraled directly towards Yue Qianfeng.
Yue Qianfeng gripped the battle halberds, sweeping them fiercely.
Like thunder exploding, rolling across the vast sky.
Dragons soaring and tigers roaring!
Xue Daoyong did not hesitate; he quickly distanced himself from the city to prevent the clash from involving the common folk. His arrows fell, and due to the surging essence gathering, the Dharma form could briefly manifest, visible to the naked eye, the massive Crimson Dragon sang in the sky, while the White Tiger roared.
The golden wind tearing everything apart, along with the fierce flames burning against the clouds.
Like the legends of ancient myths, they descended upon the world once more.
The earth trembled, and Guan Yi City changed accordingly.
The scholars' faces turned pale, all shaken by this terrifying battle. After a long silence, their voices stuttered, "This, this is a rebellion... Senior Xue's archery is unparalleled, his skills unmatched in the world, surely nothing will happen..."
Li Guanyi felt the changes in the bronze cauldron.
Dragons and tigers converging, the flow of civil and martial energies, this was the great change that Simi had spoken of—when the civil power surged to its peak, the martial artist's killing intent also rose to the highest moment, the opportunity mentioned by General Xue. Li Guanyi could already feel the fusion of the Dharma form and his inner qi.
That was the opportunity to enter the realm!
To certify the highest level of entry.
But at this moment, Li Guanyi's heart was not focused here. He held his brush, looking into the distance, recalling everything he had seen during this time, finally understanding that the defenses of Guan Yi City were waiting for Yue Qianfeng, and Yue Qianfeng was the one escorting Master Zhu.
It was a conflict between the royal family, the Chen Dynasty, and the border generals.
As the strongest in Guan Yi City, Xue Daoyong was also caught in the middle.
They were about to clash.
Li Guanyi had heard the old man's evaluation of Marshal Yue, filled with much praise and regret; he also understood Yue Qianfeng's purpose for coming here. Li Guanyi immediately deduced that the relationship between Xue Daoyong and Yue Qianfeng was not one of mutual slaughter to the death.
However, neither of them knew.
As a royal relative, Xue Daoyong believed that Yue Qianfeng aimed to assault the Jiangzhou Imperial City.
While Yue Qianfeng would think that Xue Daoyong was the one obstructing Master Zhu's entry into the city.
They would fight fiercely for their respective goals and positions. Such strong individuals, in such a significant matter, it was not impossible for them to separate life and death. Li Guanyi watched as the dragons and tigers gathered their essence, tearing at each other in the sky, seeing the Crimson Dragon's eyes blood-red, and the White Tiger's fangs bared in fury.
He saw the killing intent and determination to fight to the death in their eyes.
At this moment, within his bronze cauldron, the essence was boiling, the long-awaited opportunity to enter the realm was right before him. As long as he sat in this place of the most abundant civil energy, he would naturally break through, and he could also use the aura of the dragons and tigers fighting during the clash between Yue Qianfeng and Xue Daoyong to elevate the Dharma form to a purer realm.
But...
The youth lowered his gaze.
He released the hand pressed against his heart.
Suddenly, he laughed and cursed, "Damn it."
The Crimson Dragon roared, flames burning against the heavens, as if Yue Qianfeng had used some martial technique, delivering a fierce blow. Xue Daoyong did not expect Yue Qianfeng to possess such a deadly resolve and terrifying brute strength, suffering a sudden loss, the White Tiger formed from the gathered clouds howled in pain.
The bow shattered, revealing that Xue Daoyong had fallen into a disadvantage.
Xue Shuangtao's face turned pale, as if she heard her grandfather's painful groan, feeling a heart-wrenching discomfort, tears welling in her eyes, while all the scholars around, including those powerful figures, did not move an inch. At that moment, they suddenly heard a clear whistle.
Then, the sound of warhorses whinnied erupted, as several people were knocked aside.
A horse with a crimson mane struggled to shake off the attendant holding the reins and galloped towards them. Changsun Wuchou recognized this horse, his eyes widening: "This is..."
"Li Guanyi?!"
A figure dashed out, sweeping past Xue Shuangtao.
Under the silent gaze of everyone, the youth in a blue robe leaped onto the horse, gripping the Su Ni bow in his right hand and the reins in his left. The previously unruly horse neighed, rearing up like a dragon. Changsun Wuchou rushed forward, saying, "Li Guanyi, what are you doing?!"
Li Guanyi's eyes shone with brilliance: "To repay kindness with kindness."
"This is my sense of righteousness."
Only he, who bore the potential to draw upon the essence of the Dharma form, had the qualification to charge in there. Only he, who recognized both sides and saw the grand situation, could articulate the current circumstances, even if he might be affected by the aftermath, even if he might not succeed, even if it impacted his entry into the realm, but—
I want to do this.
He spurred the horse, the warhorse neighed, abandoning the so-called superior entry. Perhaps this body was still that of a youth, perhaps it was truly so, the youth had his own youthful pride, watching two individuals who had both greatly benefited him fight each other while he quietly broke through here.
He could not do it!
The youth's brow lifted, laughing heartily.
His heart like the blazing sun, radiating brilliance.
The Dharma forms of the dragons and tigers paused, clearly Li Guanyi had given up on the techniques bestowed by General Xue, choosing to enter the realm with the posture of a hundred battles. Yet these two Dharma forms seemed to grow even more fervent, lacking the previous restlessness of entering the realm, but carrying an indescribable divine intent.
Full of youthful vigor.
It seemed they wanted to completely merge with this youth!
The warhorse neighed, carrying Li Guanyi out, charging against the tide of scholars and literati, silent without a sound. Even the most unruly scions of noble families wore complex expressions at this moment. Xue Shuangtao's eyes widened, reflecting the youth's spirited ambition.
This was the only one in the thirty years of the most flourishing literary gathering, who dared to utter a word of righteousness in such circumstances, going against the tide.
Naturally, he would be renowned.
"Jiangzhou, Li Guanyi."
(End of Chapter)